Research on Mindfulness and Meditation
Here’s a summary of research findings on the benefits of mindfulness particularly relevant to kids, parents, and families:
Research finds that mindfulness and meditation decreases stress and anxiety, increases attention, improves interpersonal relationships, strengthens compassion and most importnatly, improves happiness within kids, parents and families.
- Research now shows that mindfulness training increases connectivity in the frontal lobe of the brain, which is linked to improved attention, memory processing and decision-making abilities.
- Mindfulness training involves tuning in to internal and external experiences with curiosity resulting in increased self-awareness, social awareness, and self-confidence.
- Mindfulness training increases children’s ability to self-regulate their emotions, especially difficult emotions such as fear and anger, through breathing and other grounding techniques.
- Mindfulness has been shown to improve empathy or the ability to understand what another person is thinking or feeling, which improves children’s awareness of others and helps them to build positive relationships.
- Mindfulness training has been to shown to reduce the severity of depression, anxiety and ADHD in children.
- Mindfulness builds resilience by giving children skills to help them cope better with stress, as well as engage more fully with themselves and the world.
Can meditation help all kids, from primary school to university?
Meditation is not just for adults. Children and adolescents also benefit. Research shows that meditation in the classroom helps students become more focused, calm, quiet, settled and rested by providing them with an opportunity to learn how to relax and reflect.
- Meditation doesn’t just help kids feel relaxed; neuroscience suggests that it changes the structure and function of the brain.
- Researchers from the Universities of Udine and Rome in Italy studied the effects of meditation training on a group of 16 healthy elementary school children aged seven to eight years old.
- They found that meditation training improved the children’s attention and reduce problems, such as fearfulness, withdrawal from social groups, anxiety and depression, improving their psychological well-being.
- Ten to 12 minutes of meditation also enhances positivity and creativity among students by reducing restlessness, nervousness and irritation — according to research from Erasmus University’s Rotterdam School of Management.
- More importantly, 10 minutes of meditation daily can enable us to connect with ourselves, get acquainted with our innermost feelings and have better plans for the future.
Source: theconversation.com/au/education
"During class, Meditation can help children relax and be more present by focusing on breathing and being in the moment. Students listen to Guided Meditations laying down or sitting in a chair."
Be prepared, meditation actually changes the brain.
Meditation doesn't just help kids feel relaxed; neuroscience suggests that it changes the structure and function of the brain.
- Findings suggest the regular practice of meditation results in improved emotional and mental states.
- At the physiological level, research shows that meditation can reduce stress, pain, anxiety, cardiovascular diseases and insomnia.
- Meditation also balances blood pressure and heart rate, improves respiration and cognition.
- Furthermore, there is ample research to show that the largest effects of meditation are experienced by those areas of the brain which are responsible for happiness and positive feelings.
Source: theconversation.com/au/education
"Children love Mindful Games and the opportunity to reflect on their day in an Affirmation Journal. Simple ways to start creating self and social awareness, and, build positive relationships."
A question of commitment
A mindfulness and meditation practice for children does not require any sophisticated equipment. It requires only a little commitment from parents and teachers and a program that engages kids for at least 5 - 10 minutes a day.
- Meditation as a part of regular teaching can play an important role not only in enabling students to increase their self-awareness but also in changing their perspective to some extent.
- We think it is time for all parents and schools at all levels to acknowledge meditation practices as an important part of a students life, for the benefits of the child and society as well.
Source: theconversation.com/au/education
Sharing the Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation
Our Mindfulness and Meditation Resources for Kids have been utilised in classes since 2017. Parents who have children accessing our resources at home, or in a class notice a positive transformation in their kids' thinking and behaviour. Read our reviews.
- Initially, students find it challenging to control their “monkey minds” during 10-minute meditations. But, with practice over 8 week periods, 10 minutes become short for them, students also love to practice our meditations at home.
- For many students meditation in class is a first time experience, our meditations are guided and gradually allow kids to know themselves better, helping them feel more relaxed and peaceful. It also increases each students’ level of physical, mental and emotional awareness.
- Students feel happy that they can attend the classes and experience a sense of tranquillity during the meditation sessions sometimes drifting off to sleep.
"Studies find that children and adolescents benefit from learning mindfulness and meditation in terms of improved cognitive outcomes, social-emotional skills, and emotional wellbeing. In turn, such benefits may lead to long-term improvements in life."
MY PEACEFUL UNIVERSE, Mindfulness and Meditation for Kids
Would you like to help children build resilience and learn how to manage their own mental health, happiness and emotional well-being? Be a part of a global shift and teach Mindfulness and Meditation to children. Here's how.